"Welcome to Dresden" - Ausstellung des Presseamtes in Coventry eröffnet

Pressemitteilung

11. Februar 1999 / l / r / Mitz

"Welcome to Dresden" - Ausstellung des Presseamtes in Coventry eröffnet

Oberbürgermeister Dr. Herbert Wagner eröffnet heute, 18 Uhr, die Ausstellung "Welcome to Dresden: High-Tech and Baroque" des Presseamtes in der Kathedrale von Coventry (siehe Pressemitteilung 9. Februar). An der Ausstellungseröffnung werden der Bischof von Coventry, Colin James Bennetts, der Dompropst von Coventry, John Petty, und die stellvertretende Bürgermeisterin, Joan Wright, sowie der ehemalige Dompropst, Dr. Paul Oestreicher, teilnehmen. Die Besucher der Ausstellung können in der Kathedrale auch das Turmkreuz bewundern, das der "Dresden Trust" für die Frauenkirche bei einem Londoner Goldschmied in Auftrag gegeben hatte. Auf Einladung der Stadt Coventry und der Kathedrale nimmt OB Wagner morgen am Gedenkgottesdienst für die Dresdner Bombenopfer in der Kathedrale von Coventry teil.

Coventry und Dresden sind Symbole für einen neuen Anfang nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg. "Die Kirchen in beiden Städten nahmen schon in den 50er Jahren Kontakt auf und legten den Grundstein für die erste Städtepartnerschaft, die Dresden 1959 einging," sagte Dr. Wagner bei der Ausstellungseröffnung. Nach dem Fall der Mauer wurde der Austausch zwischen den Partnerstädten vielfältiger, für viele Dresdner überhaupt erst möglich. Heute treffen sich die Mädchen und Jungen aus beiden Städten, um gemeinsam zu lernen, zu studieren, Sport zu treiben oder zusammen Ferien zu machen. Jedes Jahr tauschen die Städte Jugendgruppen aus. Im Juni 1996 bewältigten 60 Läufer von Dresdner Sportvereinen nonstop die Distanz von 1.300 Kilometern von Dresden über Rotterdam nach Coventry. Lauffreunde aus den beiden Partnerstädten begleiteten sie streckenweise. 1997 trafen sich die Junioren-Fußballmannschaften zum gemeinsamen Spiel in Coventry. Vertreter der Diözese Coventry waren im Oktober 1997 bei den Kirchgemeinden in Dresden-West zu Gast. Im Juni 1998 startete die Internationale Frauenkirchen-Radtour von Newcastle über Coventry und Hamburg nach Dresden, bei der Frauenkirchen-Freunde vor allem aus den drei Partnerstädten und aus München in die Pedale traten. Auch Künstlerinnen aus beiden Städten trafen sich im vergangenen Jahr zu einem gemeinsamen Ausstellungsprojekt.

Rede von Oberbürgermeister Dr. Herbert Wagner zur Eröffnung der Ausstellung "Welcome to Dresden: High-Tech and Baroque" am 11. Februar 1999 in der Kathedrale von Coventry

- es gilt das gesprochene Wort -

Ladies and Gentlemen,

let me start by thanking you very much for the warm welcome here in Coventry Cathedral. This year our partnership is already 40 years old! It was the churches in the two cities who sought contact already during the 1950s and encouraged reconciliation and tolerance among the people. These contacts were also the foundation for the very first twin-city partnership, which Dresden entered into in 1959. Since then, the two cities have been working together for peace and understanding between the nations. Immediately after the war, young people from Coventry helped to rebuild the Diakonissen Hospital in Dresden. And young Dresdeners helped to clear the ruins in Coventry.

In 1989, after decades of dictatorship and isolation the people of Eastern Germany won back their freedom in a peaceful revolution. It was only after the fall of the Berlin Wall that the exchanges between our two cities became more varied, and for many people in Dresden even possible for the first time. Today the boys and girls from our two cities are meeting to learn and study together, to compete in sports and to spend holidays together.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dresden and Coventry are symbols for a new beginning after the Second World War. In both cities there are monuments warning us of war and senseless destruction, monuments which are in a way representative of the people's longing for peace - the ruins of the old cathedral in Coventry and the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche in Dresden.

On the 14th of November 1940 german bombs destroyed Coventry for the first time. Other air raids followed and your city suffered heavily. The war which Hitler Germany had unleashed on the world, struck back mercilessly against Dresden. In the night from the 13th to the 14th of February 1945 a series of three bombing raids reduced the historical city center to ruins. And the Frauenkirche was, and remains, the greatest and most tragic loss. The city, it appeared, had lost its heart. But the people of Dresden never gave up the hope that, one day, the Frauenkirche would be rebuilt. This bold dream is now finally becoming reality.

On February 12, 1993, the building work began officially with the start of the archaeological salvaging of the ruins. Since that day, the building of the Frauenkirche has been rising up stone by stone, and we are currently three months ahead of the original timetable. The outside walls have today reached a level of 18.5 metres. By this Spring, they will have grown to 24 metres. 24 metres from a total of 96 metres. And when we finally reach that height, the dome can be crowned once more with its beautiful cross.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is wonderful that the people of our twin city can come to Coventry Cathedral and see the cross and orb for the Frauenkirche, a donation of the Dresden Trust.

The cross is an important example of the way the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche captures the imagination of countless people all over the world as a symbol of remembrance, of a will for peace and of confidence and hope. The reconstruction of the church, and this is far from being just a secondary issue, thus also brings Germany and other countries closer together. This unique building transcends local and national boundaries, as does the gigantic task of its reconstruction. The road ahead is still long and difficult. But the fact that we are not alone on this journey, that we have friends like you and the Dresden Trust at our side, gives us strength and energy. International initiatives and donations such as yours to aid the Frauenkirche have supported us, and continue to support us in our task. Thank you very much for your commitment!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are especially pleased that we can show our new exhibition on Dresden here in Coventry Cathredral. Natural charm, captivating architecture and unique art collections - these are the factors which each year attract about six million tourists to Dresden. The reunification of Germany in 1990 was the start signal for a lively upswing. Interest in our famous city of art and culture increased in leaps and bounds in Germany, in Western Europe and overseas. To date it has grown year by year.

Dresden is not only a centre of European culture. Equally important, our city has always been, and again is today, a centre of technical innovation and economic progress. Today, the economic changes are still going on. After the peaceful revolution in 1989, we had to manage a lot of changes. We had to improve investments, jobs, protection of the environment, housing conditions and infrastructure. We know that we are on the right way, but we still need help to continue. Although we are all impatient, we also know that we need some more time to reduce unemployment, to improve the infrastructure and to stabilize economic development. But well known international companies have already given their confidence to Dresden and to the city's great traditions in science and research, as well as to the high educational standards of its citizens. The University of Technology and the 30 scientific institutes contribute to Dresden's reputation.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, economic development is not left to chance and Dresden is well on its way to becoming a European high-tech centre. The investments of Siemens, of the US company Motorola and of the American electronics company AMD have set a spiral of development in motion - many small and medium-sized high-tech firms have come to Dresden - or to "Silicon Saxony" as some are dubbing it.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, Dresden's special atmosphere - the symbiosis of art and creativity, business and innovation,high-tech and baroque - has a tremendous power of attraction! I am most pleased to note your great interest and would like to invite you to a tour of the exhibition. Thereafter I hope you will come to Dresden and experience the original.

Thank you.